Animal Drinking Trough with Retractable Hatch and Float Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional animal water troughs are inadequate for larger animals, such as beef cattle, as the increased size of their muzzles makes it difficult for them to access water due to the size and design of the troughs, requiring excessive force to push the retractable closing means back into the tank.
Innovation Solution
A water trough design featuring a retractable hatch and float system with rotating mounting means, allowing the retractable hatch to be positioned above the water level, reducing the surface area in contact with water, and incorporating spacer means to facilitate easier access, along with a non-circular opening shape to accommodate larger animals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the size of the through opening of the frame is increased to accommodate larger animals, then the animals can access water more easily, but the force required to push the retractable sealing means (ball) back inside the tank increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the ball that must be pushed back inside the tank. Instead, a retractable hatch with float and spacer means is used, where the float provides automatic return to closed position without requiring the animal to push it back. This eliminates the force barrier while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including a retractable hatch that can move between open and closed positions, a float that automatically returns the hatch to the closed position, and spacer means that maintain proper positioning. This dynamic system adapts to animal size while reducing the force required for access.
2Reliability
If the size of the ball of retractable sealing means is increased to match larger animal muzzles, then the through opening can be sealed properly, but the force required to push the ball back inside the tank increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the manually-pushed ball and transferred to a retractable hatch system with float and spacer means. The float provides automatic sealing action without requiring force from the animal, maintaining reliable sealing while eliminating the force barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The float and spacer means system is self-acting, where the float automatically returns the hatch to the closed position using water pressure, without requiring the animal to exert force to push it back. The system serves itself by using the water in the tank to maintain the sealed position.
3Reliability
If the entire surface of the water is in contact with the retractable trapdoor to provide sealing, then the sealing is effective, but the force required to oppose the water action on the trapdoor becomes very significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the retractable hatch at a determined distance above the water level, creating an insulating air volume between the hatch and water. This localized positioning reduces the water contact area to only the float surface, significantly reducing the force required to oppose water action while maintaining sealing effectiveness at the critical through opening interface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the force required for animals to access water, allowing larger animals to drink comfortably and preventing water stagnation and frost issues, while maintaining easy access and efficient water flow.
Implementation Method 1
a float, which is positioned inside the internal volume of the tank, and which is configured to be at least partly immersed in the water contained in the internal volume of the tank as well as to push the retractable hatch into the closing position of the through opening of the frame, this under the effect of the thrust of the water
Data Source
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AI summary
Animal waterer (1) comprising, on the one hand, a tub (2), which has an internal volume (7) for holding water and an upper part (5) provided with an opening (6), on the other hand, a lid (9), surmounting the tub (2), closing the opening (6), and comprising, on the one hand, a frame (11), positioned above the tub (2), and having a through opening (12) to allow access to the internal volume (7) and, on the other hand, retractable closing means (13), configured to close the through opening (12), and movable between a closed and open position of the through opening (12).This drinking trough (1) is characterized by the fact that the retractable closing means (13) comprise, on the one hand, a retractable hatch (14) to close the through opening (12), this in the closed position of the through opening (12) and, on the other hand, a float (15), positioned inside the internal volume (7), and configured to be at least partly immersed in the water contained in the internal volume (7) as well as to push the retractable hatch (14) into the closed position of the through opening (12), this under the effect of the pressure of the water and, on the other hand, spacer means (16) to connect the retractable hatch (14) and the float (15) as well as to space this retractable hatch (14) and this float (15).